Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina's countdown to the 2013 season opener is at exactly one week. The Catamounts open the season with a special, pre-Labor Day kickoff on Thursday, August 29 at 7:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm CT against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.

Fans planning to make the trip to Murfreesboro, Tenn., can check out all game day activities including pregame tailgating online at GoBlueRaiders.com. The game will not be televised, but will be video streamed (subscription) through the Blue Raiders' Stretch Internet page.

Audio coverage of the season-opener will also be available through the Catamount Sports Network beginning with a one-hour pregame show with streaming audio online at CatamountSports.com.

Western Carolina will practice Thursday evening at 5:15 pm, with an altered schedule the remainder of the week due to the mid-week game. The squad will hold a light practice on Friday afternoon before giving the players a day off on Saturday for rest and recuperation. Game week preparations will resume on Sunday afternoon with the team scheduled to leave for Murfreesboro, Tenn., next Wednesday, Aug. 28.

Many of the starting positions for the season-opener are starting to be settled amongst the players by the coaching staff. As soon as an official opening-day two-deep is made available, it will be posted online at CatamountSports.com.

WCU football season tickets and mini-plans for the 2013 football season are still available. Season ticket holders can catch all five exciting home games at Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field in Cullowhee starting at just $70 for adults, $35 for youth in the general admission seating sections with reserved tickets at $110 for adults, $55 for youth. Contact the WCU Ticket Office at (800) 34-GOWCU or (828) 227-2401, or online at CatamountSports.com.

Fans can also keep track of the Catamount through the WCU Athletics' social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Twitter (@catamounts), YouTube (CatamountSports) and Instagram (wcu_catamounts).